KUALA LUMPUR – The Rural Development Ministry has denied allegations that it is planning to ensure that the appointment of the next Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director-general (DG) would be a non-Orang Asli.
Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the ministry is presently identifying suitable candidates to replace Prof Juli Edo who retired last month.
"The issue of civil servants appointing the replacement of the director-general is untrue because at present discussion and evaluation process is still ongoing,” he said. “The nomination is being done under the procedure set under the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as enshrined under Section 5, Act 134 of the Orang Asli Act 1954.
“The Orang Asli community will always be the main choice for the ministry to nominate as the DG in line with Article 8(5)(c) of the Federal Constitution to appoint Orang Asli for suitable posts in the civil service,” he said in a statement today.
Abdul Latiff’s response came after Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor had earlier today claimed that the ministry officers are attempting to place a non-Orang Asli as the next Jakoa director-general.
“The post of Jakoa director-general is usually prioritised to a qualified Orang Asli from the peninsula,” Ramli had said. “However, the information I have received is that there are officers at the Rural Development Ministry plotting and arranging for the next Jakoa DG to be a non-Orang Asli individual,”
Ramli, the sole Orang Asli MP in Parliament, said that he condemned and opposed such efforts by “bureaucratic little Napoleons” in the ministry.
Abdul Latiff said that the selection of candidates is not done at random but is based on expertise, including wide experience and skill in department management, financial management, development project management and socioeconomics.
“The candidate should also have a strong networking relationship between the federal authority, state departments and non-governmental organisations,” he added.
In a series of tweets yesterday, Abdul Latiff had said that he together with his deputy and secretary-general had a virtual audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to discuss filling the Jakoa vacancy.
He said the department has been led by a member of the Orang Asli community since 2017.
“At the same time, I believe Jakoa should be led by a DG who is experienced and an expert to spur the Orang Asli to become more developed and modern,” he said. – The Vibes, May 19, 2021
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